The tone has been set in the first round match up between the Sudbury Wolves and the Kingston Frontenacs, and it's all out war.
The two teams split the first two games in Kingston last week, and both games featured plenty of fireworks and punishing physical play.
The two clubs hook up for Game Three tonight at the Sudbury Arena. Game time is 7:30 pm.
Look for full results and game pictures on northernlife.ca tonight after the game.
Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno wants a lot more of the same game the team played last Saturday, when they thumped Kingston 4-1.
"Our game isn't going to change," said Foligno. "We have a game plan that's working. We played a more consistent game on Saturday and it was a solid 60-minute effort. We had more shots on net, more chances to score and more production. What worked once, you try again, but now we have to do it better. That's our mentality now."
Wolves sniper Ben Pouliot knows his team has to keep the Kingston offence in tight check at all times or it will burn mightily.
"They're very good offensively," said Pouliot. "They're dangerous on the transition game. If we mess around in the neutral zone, they will pick it up right away and go for a three-on-two break - that's something they're really good at. We have to be careful."
Pouliot also knows the Wolves need to keep peppering Kingston goalie Danny Taylor like a fine steak with more shots.
"We have to keep getting pucks to the net and do the simple
things," said the forward.
Wolves all-star defenceman Marc Staal wants to see his team act
like one giant cheese shredder and grate the smaller, skilled
Kingston squad.
"With a team like Kingston, we have to play chippy," said the captain. "They really like the free-flowing, up-and-down game. They're good on the rush as well. If we can shut down that part of their game...We will be doing our job."
Staal also praised the efforts of goalie Kevin Beech, who has delivered some fine play.
"Kevin made the saves he needed to...When we needed him, he bailed us out."
The players are anxious to put on a show for the Sudbury fans and the Wolves want them to be loud and proud.
"The crowd always plays a big fatcor in our games," said Staal. "If they get us going, it gets our adreniline running. It's definelty an advantage for us."
The Wolves aren't rolling out the red carpet for Kingston or getting ready to pamper them during their stay in Sudbury.
"We have to come out and play hard and stay committed to our
defensive zone," said defender Ryan Hastings. "We must finish
our checks and play them physical for 60 minutes.
Whatever team is working the hardest and plays the full 60
minutes will come out on top. The tone has been set - it's
going to be a war all the way to the end."
Foligno wants to keep the penalty box door locked like a vault.
"We still have to reduce our penalties," said the bench boss. "We can't continue to put too much pressure on our penalty killers. It really tires players out."
Foligno is glad to see his leaders leading as Pouliot and Baker both combined for four goals and eight points in the first two games. He's also pleased with production from others.
Above all else, Foligno wants to see his players, win or lose, after the game, slumped in their stalls, exhausted from pouring every last bit of their energy into the game.
"It's the playoffs and we're at home...no one can leave anything on the table and they should be spent at the end of a game," said Foligno. "Winning builds momentum."
